I wanted one
The Original ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea. Photo © Endless Summer®
I first learned about ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea four springs ago and decided instantaneously that I wanted one for my garden, and not just because of those gorgeous blue flowers. My grandma had always had these kind of hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) growing in her garden, and had explained to me that the flower color changed depending on the type of soil it was growing in. I could never grow my grandma’s kind of hydrangea because until ‘Endless Summer’ came along, these shrubs only bloomed on last year’s woody growth, which in my climate would get killed to the ground.
I got one
Last year, I finally got one. My first clue that this shrub might not be without faults was Don’s comment that “they are very sensitive to leaf damage from freezing.” And freeze they did, both last year and this year. In my book, it’s a poor kind of hardiness that makes it through the winter, only to be cut down in spring. Sure, I could use floating row covers on them, as has been suggested, but I wonder if a floating row cover would protect from really hard freezes?
Carol’s hydrangea on June 24 in Indiana
Kathy’s hydrangea on June 29 in New York
I was talking to Carol of May Dreams Gardens (all right, emailing), remarking on the difference in growth between our two plants. Hers is blooming, mine doesn’t even have buds yet! But she was telling me, “I’ve been disappointed in ‘Endless Summer’ because the plants just never get that big. Maybe a foot tall or 18 inches.” Mine is already 18 inches tall, and it isn’t ready to bloom yet. But I don’t think the macrophylla hydrangeas ever get as big as the paniculata hydrangeas, which are hardier and a lot more common (as in the ubiquitous ‘PeeGee’) the further north you go. The American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
My shrub also blooms in the same sitting-on-the-fence color as Carol’s: neither pink nor blue, but a bit of both. Since blueberries, which require a very acid soil, grow wild in our field, I had assumed my hydrangea would bloom a glorious blue without any help from me, but apparently the soil near the house is less acid than up the hill.
Not living up to its claims
On the whole, I find this shrub is not living up to its claims. It is not hardy in the way I think of hardy, and it is not perpetually blooming because it takes so long to get going after dying back from late spring frosts. I bet I don’t see a fully colored blossom until August, just like last year.
How about you?
But what about you? For those of you who have planted this shrub, how is it doing for you? Are there others you like better?
He grew the original ‘Endless Summer’
Update: Here’s an article I found about the gardener who grew the hydrangea that became known as ‘Endless Summer’: Tangled Up in Blue. (I had to register on this site to gain access to the article. I’m hoping the link I’ve provided will let you skip that step.)
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I believe that my Endless Summer has gotten over fertilized (acidic) and look like they are dying. Is there something I can do to save them?
Hi Pam, I’ve noticed that my Endless Summer (which was doing great in the spring) has slowed it’s blooms and isn’t as hardy as it was. I haven’t over fertilized….but it has been too cool here and wet. Maybe that is why. Good luck with yours.
We are in MN zone 4a and had a lot of trouble like many of the other commenters. The bushes were small and no blooms. We have 12 plants along the east side of the house with 2 in the south. The ones with the most shade are the largest, but even still we were getting no blooms. So, this year we tried something different, we put down a soaker hose and watered them like crazy, now we finally have blooms everywhere. Most plants have 6-8. Unfortunately they are all pink, we’re going to amend the acidity next season and see how it goes. My advice to everyone is to give them as much water as possible.
I have read comments ad nauseum. What I am looking for I can’t find. Please tell me if these will thrive in a mostly shaded area. Thanks much.
Yes, they will thrive in a mostly shaded area provided it is moist. They don’t like it dry, and they do need some sun.
I live in northern Ohio. I have a gorgeous endless summer hydrangea, that has grown and bloomed perfectly for me for 3 seasons or more. I couldn’t be more pleased. Right now it is covered with beautiful, huge pink blooms and it is June 23rd. I love it!
Im in MA and I have had an endless for over three years now. Never one bloom. Everything else in my entire yard is huge and gorgouse and tons of blooms except for this plant. I wanted one so bad, so my boyfriend surprised me in bringing one home. I couldnt wait to see it bloom…. three years later…. still waiting
Bummer Bonnie! Have you checked the soil? Maybe the acid level isn’t where it should be. Sorry you aren’t able to enjoy your Endless Summer!
Thanks Kathy and bev for you suggestions. Im actually very good about checking my soil levels and they are perfect for this type of plant and it get tons of sun shinny weather. Its a major bummer!
No blooms is sure frustrating. Is it definitely getting enough sun? Perhaps there is a tree branch or shrub that could be trimmed back to let it bask a little longer each day. As Kathy suggested too, the fertilizer can be key. Not only to change the color to blue but mine are lots happier just with the extra fertilizer period. They do die back to the ground each year here in Nebraska but grow to about 31/2 feet tall each summer.
I had a lot of luck with Endless Summer growing it in Washington State, east of Seattle a bit. I kept it in a pot for a few years as I wanted it on the patio.
I planted it in the ground, where it is going into it’s 3rd year – very large – 3.5′ and many blossoms. My friend’s is in a large pot still and very large also – her’s is bluer and mine seems to have a bit of both pink and blue. It does not seem to have the really strong stocks, but I love it and get so many blossoms.
Good news about my Endless Summer….I decided to put it BACK into the garage for the winter and water it periodically. It did well in 06 when I did that, but in 07 I left it on the covered patio for the winter and it did lousy. This spring I already have 5 inches growth and it looks healthier than it has in 2 years! I’m thinking of placing it in the ground this year to see how it will do. I love the flowers, but think the plant needs LOTS of care during the winter months in our zone in order for a hardy spring plant.
Good Luck!
In southern coastal Maine (zone 5) I have had very good experience with Endless Summer despite benign (?) neglect. It leafs out over its three to four feet height and width and keeps a handsome show of blue from late Spring to first heavy frost. No cover and mediocre soil, but it is a foundation plant on the south side of the house, and that shields it from some of our wicked wind and cold.
I have 3 ES plants. This year they all had loads of blooms but more a lavender color. I have left them in pots so each fall I haul them into the unheated garage. I have to be careful not to bring them out too early. One year I did and they froze way back. This way they get started much early and I have all summer to enjoy. They are real showy and all my neighbors enjoy.
Hi Bea,
I am interested in buying an Endless Summer; especially because it was my main wedding flower. I live in a zone 2b so I think I will need to keep it in a pot and haul it in for the winter. Does it have to be in an unheated place like a garage to go dormant for the winter or do you think I could store it in our heated breezeway that has a lot of windows?
My ES have been a disappointment also. They have nenver reached the size that they were when I purchased them. They had no blossoms the first year, only a few the second and were only about two feet tall. I then began to add compost every spring, a slow release fertilizer, and triple phosphate (46) from Espoma. It’s inexpensive and I found it at a local nursery. The size and the number of blooms have markedly improved. I live in NE Indiana and my old wood dies back every year. I will try wiring and covering with leaves this year to see what happens. Conclusion though is that they are far too much trouble and tempermental for me to ever purchase again.
Hi Kathy,
Well, here it is September 10th and I thought I’d let everyone know….3 blooms, THE WHOLE SUMMER! That’s it! Oh well, next year will be different. I’m putting it back into the garage like I did a couple of years ago. Little water and little sun. We’ll see what happens.
I enjoy your website so much! Thanks for all the gardening advice!
Twitter: @WriteGardener
This is the second year for my ES, it had several gorgeous blue blooms. It lives close to the house, doesn’t get any special attention, and I think will do even better next year.
I purchased 2 of these last fall, they were on clearance at my local grocery store and I got them pretty cheap (yay!) I planted one on either side of my porch and now this year they dont look like they are the same type of shrub at all. Only one of them has flowered, and it is shorter and has much smaller leaves than the other. The flowers at first looked white, but are now a very very pale blue. The other that has not flowered is about a foot taller (to be maybe 3 ft tall) the leaves are twice the size and a paler green color and it has no flowers. So it looks weird to have them flanking my porch since they look so different from one another. Obviously the difference must be in the soil since they looked the same when I planted them. But I really don’t know anything about hydrangeas in general and am preparing to move anyway so, I guess I will let the next tenants worry about it. LOL
Bev,
Your ES hydrangeas are beautiful!! Thanks for posting the pictures. I took some pics of mine today with a disposable camera…hopefully they will turn out, and I will post them after getting them developed and figuring out how to download them (will let my husband do that part!) I think mine are a similar size to yours…a little over 3 feet tall and blooming like gangbusters. Last winter was the first year I tried protecting them, and it must have made a difference…based on how they look this summer. I did it in the fall after the first freeze, when they leaves were well shriveled. It made it easier to guide the pile of leaves down between the stems. I piled them about halfway up the stems, and because the stems are fairly close together, they stayed wedged in there and didn’t blow away. Also, after the first snowfall, the wetness really held them down, and after that we have a pretty reliable snow cover. I did, however, actually save a sack of leaves in the garage to add more if needed during the winter, but I didn’t need to. I waited until the 1st of May to uncover them, and sure enough, new growth was already a couple inches tall. Then we had a freeze warning about May 10th (late for Iowa!) and I ended up dumping mulch on top for a few days to protect the new growth, because last year the new growth froze, and I had only TWO flowers the entire summer!! So I worked hard this year at keeping them protected, and it paid off. This is only the 2nd season I have had new leaf buds on old wood. The first 2 seasons I had none…so maybe it tends to happen after they become more mature and established?? I noticed almost all the buds on old wood seem to happen around the outer stems…not in the center of the plant, which is kind of interesting. I did get new buds over a foot up the old stems, so I definitely don’t recommend cutting the stems back too early…like you said, Bev, not before June 1st or so. And my hydrangeas also die back to the ground each year, but they get tall again very quickly in late spring. I’m so glad you’ve had such good luck this year, Bev! It’s fun to see the pics of how well yours are doing!! Thanks for sharing!
Picture of hydranges on North side of house
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15924100@N00/2664814987/
Hi,
Liz, that is impressive to have had blooms on old wood this year. Will have to try and put the extra over-winter protection on them this winter. Do you have a certain way of holding down the leaves/mulch through the winter or do you have reliable snow cover usually to keep it in place?
I have finally had good luck beyond a couple of flowers this summer in Nebraska with Endless Summer variety. Likely a result of unusual increase in rainfall this year. So I guess this is a hint that PLENTY of water is needed for these to flourish. Perhaps the added humidity in the air is key too. Mine have died back to ground each year but have reached 3 feet or tall rapidly this year with a flush of blooms. Didn’t trim off dead branches until June in stubborn hope old wood would leaf out.
Have now put in soaker hose to ensure ready access to local heavy watering. They are in somewhat of a microclimate in an “L” shaped area on North side of house and partly shady East side of house and they have a bit of protection from the brisk wind common here.
Have been using fertilizer made for camellias, azaleas and rhododendroms – “acid loving” plants. Soil VERY alkaline here.
By the way, if anyone has established oak trees in this area that are faltering badly or have been told they need expensive iron injections just start using a hefty dose of acid fertilizer from tree drip line to within a foot of trunk as these are acid loving trees and can only extract iron from soil if pH is acidic. (see package instructions for plant size recommendation and multiply approximately). Have done this twice a year last 2 years and recovery has been truly remarkable. May eventually notice a thinning of grass under these trees as a trade-off due to acid and increased solidity of shade.
Oh, I wanted to comment that I love your flower photos on your website, Kathy! Also love the awesome mosaic birdbath. Did you make that yourself and if so, do you mind sharing how you made it? I’d love to have one like that!
Ev
No, Ev, I purchased the bird bath. Details here.
Cathi, thanks for the comments on the “Pinky Winky” and Quick Fire hydrangeas. I ordered the Pinky Winky varieties for my sisters, one lives in Illinois and one in Ohio and they are thrilled with them (we give each other plants for our birthdays!) I’m going to get one for myself!
I have three varieties of the oakleaf hydrangeas, two kinds of “pee gees” and several Endless Summer shrubs which I fertilized as per advice above and still have no flowers!! I do believe that there are “micro climates” even in the harsher zones, where this shrub may do well, if it has all the requirements met as far as soil, fertilizer, water, sun, etc., but for the majority of other gardeners I have talked too, it has been an “Endless disappointment!” so that is my experience!! The mophead hydrangeas are well suited to milder climates such as Maryland, and New Jersey, but to be successful in the Midwest with the colder winters/springs, I think you have to be lucky with just the right “micro-climate” to have success with them.
Kathy, I have had a lot of fun with a blue mophead hydrangea given to me for Mother’s Day about 4 yrs ago. It has been repotted at least twice. It spends the summer outdoors (in the pot) where it gets lots of sun, water and fertilizer. In the fall, after the first frost hits it and wilts the leaves, I bring it into the garage and keep it next to the house — (garage is not heated, but it is protected from the severe cold since it has already set its buds for next year’s flowers.) In the spring, when it begins to break dormancy, I put it on my unheated, enclosed sunporch where it gets lots of sunlight and start watering it. I get lots of gorgeous huge blue flowers every summer, just like the florists do!! You might try that if you want to take the trouble to get a blooming “mop-head.” Ev
Hi everyone,
Well here we are the second week in July and no blooms on my ES! It’s just awful when you realize that it’s just not going to be what it was last year.
If you get the chance to read the article in Midwest Living this month…lots of great information on our beloved Hydrangas!
Evelyn,
I planted a Pinky Winky this spring and it looks good, has blooms, but the true test here in zone 4, twin cities, will be next year. Last fall I planted a Quick Fire, which made it through the winter and horrible spring we had, looks great and is loaded with blooms. Hope it is as pretty as the pictures.
I have been using the ferilome fertilizer that someone here recommended for the ES I have, but it has not made a difference. However the other plants I used it one look fabulous and the roses are loaded with blooms. So I would recommend it for other plants also.
Cathi
This is now the 4th season for my ES blue hydrangeas. I have a row of 3 bushes…each has gotten 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Last year we had an early freeze and I had only a couple of blooms the whole summer. This year I protected them with a lot of leaves over the winter, and I am back to having 40+ blooms on EACH bush. The blooms are HUGE, and gorgeous. I live in central Iowa. I would really recommend ES hydrangeas, but tell people they need to keep them very protected in the winter and do NOT cut them back at all until about the 1st of June, as I had a ton of new blossoms on old wood this year…many of them over a foot up the old stems, and would have lost all this had I cut them within a few inches of the ground. Mine are on the south side of the house close to the street, and have a bit of shade from the overhang of our maple trees. They do require a lot of water. When it’s hot, I water almost daily and fertilize with Miracle Grow a few times per season….the one made for acidic plants (NOT bloom booster!).
Has anyone tried growing the new hydrangea
“Pinky Winky?”
Thank you Kathy! I am going to the nursery tomorrow and will ask them.
The drainage is great by our retaining wall and is in good soil. I may just have to find something else to put there.
Some verbenas are hardy, some are not. How is your drainage? Verbenas like free draining soil. They might make it through the winter but rot during mud season. Find out the exact genus and species of the verbena you’re trying to grow, and google it. You may find out that not everyone thinks it’s as hardy as your nursery does.
Wendy,
Haven’t tried to use coffee grounds on any other plants. I will give it a try!
Not to get away from our favorite topice (ES)…anyone have knowledge of verbena? We are in zone 5 and eventhough our nursery says it’s hardy, every year we have to replace it. (gettin kind of old)…any idea how we can save it during the winter months?
Thanks
Hi Kathy,
Here here on the used coffee grounds. I also use them for blueberries and all the magnolias. Good for acid lovers. Plus it makes you feel good because it non chemical.
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